There's a Snake on My Head! Strategies for Alleviating Fear and Anxiety in Healthcare For Patients, Families AND Healthcare Teams

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Imagine. You are afraid of snakes. Terrified of snakes. Now imagine... there is a snake sitting on your head. Moving around on top of your head. Maybe even a rattlesnake, rattling on your head.

Now I enter the room and begin to tell you important things you need to know to take care of yourself when you return home. How much will you hear with that snake on top of your head?

Every day, people walk into healthcare with a snake on their head. They are afraid. Maybe they’re thinking:

• Will I be out of here in time to pick up my kids?
• Will I be able to afford this visit?
• Will the nurses and doctors listen and explain things to me?
• Will the results of this medical test change my life forever?

This fear can lead to physical symptoms that may interfere with your assessment of their health status like breathlessness, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, heart palpitations, or feeling sick. Most importantly, it can leave patients with the inability to think clearly and hear the vital information being shared with them. Without this information, how will they be able to follow the plan?

We interviewed over 200 families about their fears and what we could do to minimize them. Their responses, plus our research and experience will show you:

• The three things patients repeatedly told us that would alleviate their fears.
• How healthcare teams also carry their own snakes and what to do to eliminate them, while using that experience to provide exceptional care.
• How reducing these fears can lead to better health outcomes for the patients, and improved job satisfaction and efficiency for the healthcare team.

In this book, you’ll learn the effective strategies to minimize fear, worry, and anxiety for patients, families, and healthcare teams.